Half Dome, Yosemite

A beautiful day can be a bit boring for photography so I was delighted when these triangular clouds appeared over Half Dome. This is a stitched panorama taken from Sentinal Dome. Yosemite National Park, California.

Horsetail Fall, Yosemite

Every year for two weeks Horsetail Fall in Yosemite National Park, California, gets lit up by sunset and turned into "Fire Fall." On rare occasions this also happens via the moonlight. In April I was in Yosemite National Park to photograph this rare event. In order for this to happen the moon has to be at the right azimuth/elevation, it has to be a full moon, there have to be no clouds, and it has to be the middle of the night. This event happens for one night only every couple of years!

Sunset, Black Canyon of the Gunnison

At over 2,000 feet deep Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park has the highest cliffs in Colorado and views of the setting sun to match. The Gunnison River shines at this time of day, like the scales of some ancient serpent, as it winds through one of the steepest canyons in North America. The roaring river gives off 60 decibels below, but from the vertigo-inducing upper rim it seems soft and small, until you remember it was the power that carved the massive natural marvel!

Deer, Rocky Mountain

Photograph by Brett Mills, My Shot

I shot this image as the sun was setting after a spring thunderstorm in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. The sky was lit up in violet and orange. The mountains in the background are the Never Summer Range.

Thor's Hammer, Bryce Canyon

This picture was taken at Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, as the sun was rising in September 2010. This rock is called Thor's Hammer. I laid down on one of the paths to get this shot. I love the yellow halo from the sun around the top and also the way the light reflected back onto the front of the hammer to give it such a distinct red glow.

Mist, Redwood

This was taken on the Lady Bird Johnson Trail in Redwood National Park, California. It was taken early evening toward the end of a misty day of hiking and driving around the Northern Californian coast. Quiet, still, and hushed.

Silversword, Haleakala

I finally witnessed and was able to capture this image of the rare silversword bloom after three years of trekking to Haleakala National Park on Maui, Hawaii. This amazing plant only grows above 9,000-feet elevation and only on the island of Maui. It lives for 50 years, blooms only once in this spectacular display, and then dies. I discovered this bloom one afternoon and with special permission from the Park Service I spent the next three nights with this natural wonder.

Mount Rushmore National Memorial

On a 5,000-mile road trip through 14 states with our kids, we stopped at several national parks and monuments, including Mount Rushmore. As a storm approached, we saw some activity above Mr. Lincoln: a small group with rappelling gear. But before they could lower themselves, the storm drove them off the crest to safety. Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota.

Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon

I went to this place three times in three successive days. On the second day, I happened to catch a storm a few miles away. After I took several shots, the storm moved to above my head. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona and Utah.

Deer, Grand Teton

Animals use the trails too! In this case, the Death Canyon Trail in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. In this rock slide area, the only way through was on the trail. This deer came up behind me while I was stopped to take some pictures of Phelps Lake, far below. Knowing there was a slower hiking group that I had passed on the trail coming up behind the deer, I climbed up the rock slide to let the deer pass by, which he did. At this point, he stopped right by me and seemed to be thanking me for letting him through.

Hiker, Arches

This picture was taken on the path leading to Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, Utah, just before the famous arch comes into view. I wanted to get a shot of just the path with the expansive view in the background and impatiently snapped one before this hiker rounded the bend. Of course it turned out to be much better than the ones with no hikers on the path.